South Lake Union mammoth tusk uncovered at Burke Museum

A fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in a South Lake Union construction pit is uncovered by scientists at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington.

By By JOSHUA TRUJILLO

on February 26, 2014 7:02 PM

Christian Sidor, curator of vertebrate paleontology, uncovers a fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood at the Burke Museum on Wednesday, February 26, 2014. The plaster-covered tusk will be on public display during Dino Day on March 8th. The tusk sits next to another mammoth tusk in the museum's collection. The waterlogged fossil is very fragile and can be scratched like "a crayon with your fingernail," said a statement from the museum. less

Christian Sidor, curator of vertebrate paleontology, uncovers a fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood at the Burke Museum on Wednesday, February 26, 2014. The plaster-covered ... more

Christian Sidor, curator of vertebrate paleontology, scrapes away dirt stuck to a fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood as it is uncovered on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The plaster-covered tusk will be on public display during Dino Day on March 8th. less

Christian Sidor, curator of vertebrate paleontology, scrapes away dirt stuck to a fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood as it is uncovered on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at ... more

Christian Sidor, curator of vertebrate paleontology, speaks after he uncovered a fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The plaster-covered tusk will be on public display during Dino Day on March 8th. The tusk sits next to another mammoth tusk in the museum's collection. less

Christian Sidor, curator of vertebrate paleontology, speaks after he uncovered a fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The ... more

A fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood is shown at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The plaster-covered tusk will be on public display during Dino Day on March 8th. The tusk sits next to another mammoth tusk in the museum's collection. less

A fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood is shown at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The plaster-covered tusk will be on public display during Dino Day on ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

A fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union...photo-5944357.80782 - |ucfirst

A fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood is shown at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The plaster-covered tusk will be on public display during Dino Day on March 8th. less

A fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood is shown at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The plaster-covered tusk will be on public display during Dino Day on ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

A fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union...photo-5944359.80782 - |ucfirst

A fossilized mammoth femur is shown on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The fossil is part of the museum's collection.

A fossilized mammoth femur is shown on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The fossil is part of the museum's collection.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

A fossilized mammoth femur is shown on Wednesday, February 26, 2014...photo-5944360.80782 - |ucfirst

A fossilized mammoth vertebra is shown on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The fossil is part of the museum's collection.

A fossilized mammoth vertebra is shown on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The fossil is part of the museum's collection.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

A fossilized mammoth vertebra is shown on Wednesday, February 26,...photo-5944362.80782 - |ucfirst

Christian Sidor, curator of vertebrate paleontology, uncovers a fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood is uncovered on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. The plaster-covered tusk will be on public display during Dino Day on March 8th. less

Christian Sidor, curator of vertebrate paleontology, uncovers a fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood is uncovered on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the Burke Museum at the ... more

Christian Sidor, curator of vertebrate paleontology, uncovers a fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood at the Burke Museum on Wednesday, February 26, 2014. The plaster-covered tusk will be on public display during Dino Day on March 8th. The tusk sits next to another mammoth tusk in the museum's collection. The waterlogged fossil is very fragile and can be scratched like "a crayon with your fingernail," said a statement from the museum. less

Christian Sidor, curator of vertebrate paleontology, uncovers a fossilized mammoth tusk discovered in the South Lake Union neighborhood at the Burke Museum on Wednesday, February 26, 2014. The plaster-covered ... more